Grayson Fuller

Ferris State University

1312 S. State St.
Big Rapids, MI 49307
November 18, 20!.1.------ /

ire~. Borkovich~

epartment of Public Safety J - - - -- Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI 49307

M'f.Borkov~:

Dear Direct0f Bmce 1,,

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The report attache

this letter is an examination of Ferris State University's~curity
program n plac All of campus was considered when investigating these concerns. The report
breaks do
e problem areas of security around campus, while recommending solutions to the
problems.
Research was based on the assumption that Ferris State University should be completely
prepared to alleviate a threat like the 2007 tragedy at Virginia Tech University. The report
highlights areas around campus that have seemed to attract criminal activity, while providing
research that backs up the use of the recommended technology or programs to deter this
behavior.
These findings were taken from published articles as well as a few public online sources. These
sources, you will find, support the use for a better and more organized security program for our
great school. I would be honored to discuss the findings of this report if you see it fit. I
appreciate the time out of your day to look over my womes ~s reoort.

Sincerely,

~oljf)
({tier-

aX

Grayson T. Fuller

FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY SECURITY ANALYSIS

repared by
Grayson T. Fuller
'Of Housing and Residence Life
Ferris State University

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary .......................................................................... .'.............................................. 1

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 2

.....

Background ...................................................................................................................................... 2

'
Recommendation ............................................................................................................................. 4

Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 6

Appendix I ....................................................................................................................................... 8

W o.rks Cited ..................................................................................................................................... 9

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The security of Ferris State University campus is not what it should be considering the
fact that schools are becoming a more popular target sight for crimes in the past 5-10 years.
Specifically, sexual assault and drug usage are big crimes that Ferri's State is becoming known
for, and the addition or appendage of the current security program needs to happen. This report
will detail the problem areas around campus that are most vulnerable to threats. It will detail
why these places are becoming such issues, while recommending a course of action that will
deter the crimes in the most efficient way.

One of the biggest problem areas to consider are the Residence Halls located around
campus. More and more these are becoming sites of crimes because the security in and around
them is lacking to say the least. The use of a swipe access controller can only do so much unless
non-residents decide to "tailgate" in with somebody who does have access. I recommend the use
of security cameras in and around the hall and its entrances, so housing staff is able to maintain
visuals on people who should be walking with an escort. Too often are non-residents roaming
around the halls unescorted. A closed circuit monitoring system would not only help housing
staff, but also create a sense of security for residents and deter crimes from happening in general.

Another problem is the lighting around campus. The darkness in some spots around
campus makes them prime locations for crime to happen. These areas need to have more
lighting to illuminate the path. Cutting down on the dark spots around campus will cut down on
the amount of potential for crimes to happen, especially sexual assault. In addition, the
notification system in place works well, but only for the students who want it. Some students are
not signed up for this notification system so they will be unaware of possible threats around
campus. Using an emergency public address (PA) system would be of great benefit to the
housing staff. This system would be able to warn all of the students at one time of a dangerous
or threatening situation, instead of waiting for them to check their phones or email.

After reasoning with more specifics in this report, it is recommended that these findings
be used around campus to add on to what Ferris State is already using. The security is better
than some schools, but equally, there are some holes Ferris is known for that we need to address.
Becoming more aware of the current security situation is the first step in creating the best
possible atmosphere for the students, faculty, and anyone who is at Ferris State University.

INTRODUCTION

(,

vr)
t~07

The Virginia Teci/\hooting

is considered one of the deadliest
shooting rampages in U.S. history. After this improbable tragedy, university and other education
security increased a great amount, but I still do not think it is where it should be today. Unless
somebody has been directly affected by a substantial disaster in their life, most people suffer
from an "it won't happen to us" state of mind. This state of mind contains a considerable
amount of risk and can backfire immensely in a short amount of time. Before the VT shooting,
this was how the majority of people thought. Nowadays, more and more people are becoming
aware of how dangerous that type of thinking is. For larger and more urban schools and
universities, security is taking a step in the right direction. However, for smaller and more rural
schools, like Ferris, the general feeling is that we still think it can't happen to us. I am
_
j,,, _ I ,
recommending that we do something more before people realize catastrophes like VT can
happen anywhere.
{j./\~ i (\U~Ar

Octob~young ~ 7

More locally, a sexual assault was recently attempted in

woman was walking at night between Lot 25 and State Street, which was somewhat under
construction. The man was said to have dragged her behind the bushes and attempted to sexually
assault her. She was able to escape and call for help, but the man was never found or charged
(Police). These kinds of crimes should not be happening on our campus. This area must have
been dark enough for this man to believe he could get away with something terrible. Issues like
this must be resolved so people on campus are not as afraid to walk alone at night as they do
currently.

1"kJL- \U.C-\

_\/\;~~ Resident Advisor (RA), I, along with my fellow staffmem~, attempt toQ---"'

t A\ \\iai

the safety of our Residence Hall. After working in Housing fo;/h'r~; years ~ have

\l( ' \o e to see some security flaws in the Residence Halls and around campus. The lack of a

,(~our buildings, especially for those Residence Halls whGSe front desk area is not located at the

C)/

urity monitoring system in the Residence Halls seems to be a problem for keeping the safety

\L-f main entrance. Another problem that is becoming known happens at night. At night, the campus
,. f) becomes much darker because there doesn't seem to be enough lights for the amount of walk

.U\Y' space on our campus.

In addition, there might just not be lights placed in the most appropriate
, "'~ , ( ,12Jaces. The darkness of our campus at night has been brought up as a security threat for our
11
./' ~{\ <Umpus.

\}. ~

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One way Ferris State University is striving in safety is the regulation that disallows any
weapons on campus. This not only helps keep the entire campus safer in general, but it also
allows university students and faculty feel safer. While this regulation ~ere are still
y o
o ore so nothing like V~gin to
~appen here.

~~

BACKGROUND
According to the Ferris State University Annual Security and Fire Report, J : : : ,20112013 there were a total of 17 sexual offense charges. Fourteen of these sexual crimes were
committed directly on the University's campus. Also, according to the samey~~ere:

.0
~

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ch~s the~

total of 135 d
ed charges, 23 burglfil"1' barges, and six aggravated assault
in
same time
These nu ers are much too high for how small our campus is,
but to be realistic
should focus on si ly cutting this number in half
t. Also, from
Ferris State University Crime Stat~

University s orcible sexual assault rate is 12.6%

higher than the national average p IJ)OO tudents. These crimes should be the main focus of
....~eterrence when considering the sa t
our campus.

fra~artment).

~Q..~~~

Ask any Resident Advisor or Desk Service Manager and th:y will tell you the hardest
rt of maintaining building security is being able to see who is coming and going into and from
eir buildings. With entrances spanned all around each building, currently, it is impossible to
w w at kind of people are entering the buildings. Another problem with the entrances is that
not all Residence Ha
nt desks that are at the main entrance. ~ ~baugh/Henderson
specifically, their ont desks \nowhere close to the main entrance an~re unable to see
~
hardly anyone enter
1 ding~
~.\--- CJ;:>\~ ~~JD 1

\)

The only security measure to keep people who shouldn't be in the building out of the
building is the swipe access controllers at each entrance. These are helpful only if the non/1 residents are impatient. If the non-residents wait a short amount of time, they can get in by
~ following someone in who has swipe access. The term for these people is a "tailgater."
' ;failgaters are a big problem in the security of the Residence Halls. Tailgaters are able to get into
the building far too easily and could someday cost the University a lot of money in a lawsuit if
we don't take better actions with this issue. This could be such a big issue because one of the
expectations for the Housing staff job is to create a community on the floor. We are supposed to
n't live in the building are
make their room their "home away from home." If people w;
entering this easily, it diminishes that sense of communit , ecause residents feel unsecure. Not
only could their feelings of security be at risk, but if the
situation hap.pened in a residence
hall, their physical well-being could be at risk also. If a student was mentally unstable enough, it
would not be difficult for that student to find out where a person lives on campus, get into the
building, and do something drastic. This is why the lack of a security monitoring system is such
a big risk ~fl .t 1,,, t1 I":

tJ~

fl\\\

if

~~

Proper lighting around campus isn't only attributed to the feeling of security, which is
ually lights main purpose, but to actual deterring. At Ferris State University, sadly, sexual
~lJ a ault has been on the rise. In a specific case a couple years ago, a young woman was sexually
\~
assaulted while she was simply walking down a sidewalk on campus. There are many areas
~. ~ around campus that have been deemed too dark to walk alone through. Even the majority of
\.~
males have expressed how uncomfortable they would feel walking through these areas alone at
~-,
night. The path behind Bond Hall and the sidewalk leading from State Street to Ewigleben are
~ \.~ . two to name a few. These paths, along with others, have little to no lights illumination the areas
1' ~"~ and also have little to no blue emergency stations. These areas not only feel extremely
C~
dangerous, but could easily become a target area for other sexual assaults. If Ferris State wants
~o. k~ a reputation of safety, something about this must change.

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1',_~ If, ~

In addition, the Residence Halls don't have a firm security program in place. That being
~ ~id; the University has a strong security program in place with the text/email alert system. That
11

it is only available to students who sign up for it. If a student chooses not to sign up, or has not
been able to yet, the security service is of no use to them. This will result in only specific
awareness from resident to resident. Having a security program within the Residence Halls
would be an even better way of utilizing what is already in place for the campus wide security.
Another notification system might be helpful in the classrooms. Cameras are currently noticed
throughout the classroom buildings at Ferris, but notification systems are not in place in the
physical classroom. Should a threatening situation occur in the classroom, if the telephone is
disabled, there is not another way to alert authorities of a bad situation.
RECOMMENDATION
There are many different kinds of solutions to these problems and many different facets
that are worth discussing. Some schools have effectively implemented new age security
programs while others are still in the earlier stages of getting quality security. When discussing
the topic of the positions of the front desks, my recommendation would be to move the front
desk areas so that students who use the main entrance are forced to walk by the front desk.
Miller, Ward, Pickell, and Cramer are great examples of front desk placements. Puterbaugh,
Henderson, Merrill, and Travis are examples of front desk placements that are prone to easy nonresident entrance. A simple way to help with this problem is to institute a sort of curfew program
with the entrances. If all doors were locked after a time late at night, it would force all residents
to call the front desk to ask to be let in. This would be beneficial because then the front desk
workers would be able to monitor who is coming into the building. Also, if the student was a
non-resident, the front desk workers would be able to make sure they have an appropriate escort
for the building. A program like this would be inexpensive and would be a good step in the right
direction when it comes to upping security on campus, especially in the Residence Halls.

c/

Tailgaters are a problem all halls have to deal with. They are also hard to spot because
~1'ftsually don't use main entrances. Even though they are not able to get in with their student
ID, they can still wait for another student with swipe access to follow into the building, which is
why they are so unsafe. "According to another study of._
school districts safety personnel in 2001,
90 p~ent of sampled school districts were using video cameras and 87 percent were using video
,{ ;\ tf recor mg systems" (Rafferty 10). A video surveillance system would be greatly beneficial to all
V

lls. They system would serve many purposes including making the residents of the
\d(\
\...\&ui g feel safer, deterring possible crimes in or around the building, and making sure no non1
{\..V..~- -=~sidents are entering the building without an appropriate escort. Another good reason to have
, \ J'l' video cameras in or around the halls is because of their recording capabilities. Crimes like
~ _r- sexual assault are usually difficult to solve because the only lead is what the victim thought the
person looked like. With video cameras monitoring the entrances of the halls, this gives the halls
the capabilities to possibly catch a crime happening on camera. This would be helpful when
attempting to solve a crime that didn't necessarily happen in the Residence Hall. For the most
V
part, students are not going to try anything drastic if they feel they might get caught. When
, ~ ~'\
implementing security cameras, the reputation around the areas with cameras will become
'\\ ...,
known as safe because of the recording capacity of the cameras.

~.};

/\People
~

h\l~id that some parts of the Ferris campus are much too dark at night.\ "Make

often are inadequate for adjoining driveways or parking lots" (Green 17). This article shows
many different ways security systems can be put in place, and explains their importance.
Lighting by no means prevents crime from happening. Darkness is mostly a mental barrier that
people aren't comfortable with, and at the same time, is a more applicable place for crime to
happen. Therefore, putting more lighting on campus paths would, in theory, diminish the .
amount of places for crimes to possibly happen. Proper lighting is something that puts a
University over the top when it comes to security. A campus can h,ave all the security cameras
they could ever want, but if they don't have proper lights, night falls on the campus and the
cameras become useless because they too cannot see in the dark. Having proper lighting on
campus is essential if we want to deter crimes like sexual assault.
A good utility for residents in emergencies are the blue emergency stations located
around campus. These stations were scarce many years ago, but with all of the shootings in
schools it has become aware that campus security is of the upmost importance. We have more
blue stations than before, but I still don't think we have enough. Also I don't think some are in
appropriate places. On the one side, we should implement more blue emergency stations around
campus. Although, cost is a factor in this and it may be expensive to add as many as people
might want. To come to a compromise, we should start placing blue stations in more appropriate
locations. Some blue stations are near very populated areas of campus, this is counterproductive
because crimes usually don't happen in those areas. The areas Ferris need blue stations at the
most are the areas that are most dimly lit and that see the least amount of foot and vehicle traffic.
When it comes to a solid notification system, what Ferris is currently using might not be
the best for what it is trying to accomplish. In a survey of campus security officials only 14%
admitted their campus was using a Public Address System (PA system) prior to the VT shooting.
Then, 27% said the issue had been discussed but ultimately no decision was ever made. The most
popular notification systems are that through text and email (Rasmussen 17). For the notification
system currently in place, students have to first sign up for the service. If they sign up for the
service, they then must check their email to see about campus threats. If not their email their
phone is usually most reliable, but again they must sign up for the program. Awareness about
this program is what is lacking. When I talk to some residents, they don't know what the
program even is. A good program to implement is to install PA systems in the halls and
classrooms. They are not meant for mundane updates about the hall like programs or meetings
for example. Installing an emergency PA system is something that would be very valuable for
the University. This way if an emergency was happening in the building or around campus, like
an intruder or fire for example, we could effectively and reliably notify all residents in the
building of the threat.
The use of a panic button in classrooms may seem like a bit of an overreaction, but we
should never say, "It won't happen to us." If a classroom is experiencing a threatening situation,
there should be someway a professor or student can alert the authorities. Most likely the button
should be out of sight so as to prevent the accidental press of the button or to prevent the
mischievous student from pressing the button, triggering a false alarm (Green 114). Having a
secure place for the button located inside the classroom is an invaluable asset should there be a
situation happening in a classroom rather than on campus or in a Residence Hall. Some
programs even give the teacher a PIN to enter before they can alert the authorities. While the
5

specifics of the program can be discussed at a later date, the use of the alert system inside the
actual classroom should be implemented.~
CONCLUSION
~
It is well aware by students who attend Ferris State University that security around
campus could be better. With multiple sexual assault crimes, burglary, and prevalent drug usage,
the campus may not feel safe, which could possibly push people away from attending our great
University. There are some minor locational problems with lighting and emergency response,
and there are some major problems I've seen in the Residence Halls.

The DPS Annual Report showed that drugs and sexual assault are very real threats to our
University. These crimes should be our main focus when attempting to establish a stronger
security system throughout our campus. The use of security cameras would greatly decrease the
amount of crime happening. Students would even feel safer. Wake Forest University has
recently stepped up their security forces by adding cameras in their dormitories. Many people
believe the cameras may push the students right to privacy, but if placed correctly, they can be a
deterrent and make students feel safer. "The cameras are only in the halls and other public areas
so I don't feel as though I'm losing any privacy through their addition and it definitely makes me
feel safer in the dorm. I think it will result in the deterrence of all types of criminals" (Rutledge
1). Some students will inherently go against the use of cameras in the halls, but many students
still agree with the concept. "'I'm honestly surprised that Wake is just now getting cameras in its
residence halls,' junior Tucker Ammons said. 'I think that the money saved by catching vandals
and the added security is a necessity to make this campus as safe as it can possibly be'"
(Rutledge 1).
Clearly the use of a security monitoring system would be a great addition to the school's
security force. Other additions should include a better emergency notification system. It is
difficult to get every student on campus signed up for the notification system we have in place
currently. While the idea is in the right place, the execution is what is most difficult. Having a
more sure fire way to alert students of danger needs to be used. Whether it be more blue
stations, or a panic button in classrooms for professors, having better, more efficient, ways of
getting the word out if need be is should be essential for this campus's safety.
Through past crimes committed on Ferris' campus and through resident opinion, there is
not enough lighting for the size of Ferris, especially at night. The sidewalks sometimes take long
routes and ifthere isn't proper lighting, the area becomes a target for sexual assaults or robberies.
The security camera program can only do so much because at night it is much harder for that
technology to pick up on a crime. By implementing lighting to our campus, the security cameras
would be able to record better, and it would deter criminals in general from committing a crime
in the light.
In conclusion, it seems that Ferris State security on campmrtteeds some wor~e
absence of security cameras, proper lighting, the lack of properly p~stations, and
a difficult notification system, create concerns from myself and other students and faculty that
should be seriously looked into. The way Ferris security is now will not deter criminals. The
"BE ALERT" Watchdog program is a program that encourages students to be on the lookout for
6

susp1c10us activity. This alone is not enough because residents inherently assume they are not in
any immediate danger. This University must take a more aggressive approach to its security
measures so we do not become the next victims of a Virginia Tech incident. We need to always
believe "It could happen to us."

APPENDIX I
This graph combines the findings from the DPS Annual Crime and Fire Report with the
Ferris State University Crime Statistics 1 It highlights the most common crimes committed at
Ferris State University from 2011-2013, along with showing our comparison to the national
average. As shown, our aggravated assaults and sexual offenses are 12.6% higher than the

national average.

Sexual
Offense

13

17

I 12.60%

I 12.60%

Aggravated
Assault
--

Burglary

21

23

I -92.40%

Drug Law
Arrests

32

14

79

125

N/A

When it comes to video cameras, it is shown that they can support a diverse group of security
initiatives
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~

Parking lots
Cafeterias
Patios
Hallways
Recreational Centers
Administrative Buildings
School stores
Labs
Supply rooms
Hall entrances

-----------~- -

~
~

k1pU-0-

"'' --------------~~

"Ferris State University Crime Statistics." Ferris State University Crime Statistics. N.p., n.d.
Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
http://www.nerdwallet.com/nerdscholar/compareschools/safety/university/ferris-state-university.
8

Works Cited
Department of Public Safety. "Campus Crime Awareness - Annual Security & Fire
Report." Department of Public Safety. N.p., 30 Sept. 2014. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/othersrv/campussafety/safety.html.>
"Ferris State University Crime Statistics." Ferris State University Crime Statistics. N.p., n.d.
Web. 16 Nov. 2014. <http://www.nerdwallet.
com/nerdscholar/compareschools/safety/university/ferris-state-university.>
Green, Mary W. "The Appropriate and Effective Use of Security Technologies in U.S. Schools.
A Guide for Schools and Law Enforcement Agencies." ERIC. N.p., Sept. 1999. Web. 9
Nov. 2014. <http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED436943.pdf.>
"Police Release Sketch of Ferris State Sex Assault Suspect." Up North Live. N.p., 29 Oct. 2012.
Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=818735#.VGjsVvnF9ZO>
Rafferty, Victoria. "Vandalism on College Campuses: The Need for More Security." ERIC. N.p.,
May 2010. Web. 9 Nov. 2014. <http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED509678.pdf.>
Rasmussen, Chris, and Gina Johnson. "The Ripple Effect of Virginia Tech: Assessing the
Nationwide Impact on Campus Safety and Security Policy and Practice." ERIC. N.p.,
May 2008. Web. 9 Nov. 2014. <http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED502232.pdf.>
Rutledge, Ian. "Security Cameras Installed in Dorms." Old Gold Black RSS. Wake Forest
University, 28 Aug. 2014. Web. 09 Nov. 2014. <http://oldgoldandblack.com/?p=41171.>